Gem tang not eating!!!

Philippe · Feb 20, 2019

Hi,
I just imported a Gem Tang from the US to Costa Rica. The fish arrived well, is big and didn't look skinny. The parameters are:
-Salinity 1020
-amonia 0
-Nitrite 0
-Nitrate 5-10
The fish is swimming al arround the 30 gal QT tank it looks a good but he is not eating, it arrived 4 days ago. I have tried to feed with frozen mysis, live brine shrimp, nori with garlic and he doesn't even pick the food. I put a fox face that is eating well with him but it doesn't work. What else can I try

AllSignsPointToFish · Feb 20, 2019

You could try blood worms, nori without the garlic, and maybe a veggie-based flake food. I'm surprised the live brine shrimp didn't work. Have you tried frozen brine shrimp?

AllSignsPointToFish · Feb 20, 2019

Sometimes my tangs will also pick at compressed algae tablets, but that is very hit or miss.

S-t-r-e-t-c-h · Feb 20, 2019

How long ago did he arrive?

Frtdrmrose7 · Feb 20, 2019

Have you dosed the QT with any meds? I would dose GC in case it’s internal parasites. If he was eating I’d say lace his food but since he isn’t dose the water (1 packet per 10G) and if it’s parasites hopefully he will ingest enough to get him eating.

vetteguy53081 · Feb 20, 2019

That salinity is Extremely low. Bump up to at least 1.024
Live brine shrimp always entices feeding. Frozen would work also. What is tank Temp?

Philippe · Feb 20, 2019

AllSignsPointToFish said:
You could try blood worms, nori without the garlic, and maybe a veggie-based flake food. I'm surprised the live brine shrimp didn't work. Have you tried frozen brine shrimp?

Thanks, I will try tomorrow with blood worms. I havent try frozen brine only live

Philippe · Feb 20, 2019

S-t-r-e-t-c-h said:
How long ago did he arrive?

He arrived last friday

Philippe · Feb 20, 2019

Frtdrmrose7 said:
Have you dosed the QT with any meds? I would dose GC in case it’s internal parasites. If he was eating I’d say lace his food but since he isn’t dose the water (1 packet per 10G) and if it’s parasites hopefully he will ingest enough to get him eating.

I haven't dose anything, he looks Ok but his stomach is a little sucked, tje rest of his body and face look thick. What is GC?

AllSignsPointToFish · Feb 20, 2019

Philippe said:
I haven't dose anything, he looks Ok but his stomach is a little sucked, tje rest of his body and face look thick. What is GC?

I believe that's API General Cure

Philippe · Feb 20, 2019

vetteguy53081 said:
That salinity is Extremely low. Bump up to at least 1.024
Live brine shrimp always entices feeding. Frozen would work also. What is tank Temp?

He arrived friday at 1.018 I am bringin it up, I will keep trying with live brine shrimp

ngoodermuth · Feb 20, 2019

Could you post a photo or video? GC is API General Cure, but I’m not sure whether that is available where you are or not. It contains praziquantel and metronidazole.

For intestinal parasites, the metronidazole kills flagellates, and the praziquantel takes care of intestinal worms... but it’s most effective if the fish is eating and the medication can be food-soaked with a binder.

Have you checked for flukes? Any head-shaking, yawning, or scratching... particularly the gill area?

cracker · Feb 20, 2019

Hey Philippe, I see You just signed up Welcome, Welcome !
These folks will help you with the fish . they are good at it.

kichimark · Feb 20, 2019

When it comes to the blood worms a lot of folks will confuse the live ones for black worms. I have never seen a fish refuse the wiggling black worm as it hits the saltwater. Some places call them bloodworms but they are actually black worms if they are alive. Frozen bloodworms that are sold are actually an insect larvae and not the same as the true black worm. That may or may not work (the frozen kind).

Philippe · Feb 20, 2019

ngoodermuth said:
Could you post a photo or video? GC is API General Cure, but I’m not sure whether that is available where you are or not. It contains praziquantel and metronidazole.

For intestinal parasites, the metronidazole kills flagellates, and the praziquantel takes care of intestinal worms... but it’s most effective if the fish is eating and the medication can be food-soaked with a binder.

Have you checked for flukes? Any head-shaking, yawning, or scratching... particularly the gill area?

he does't scratch or show any sign of flukes

Philippe · Feb 20, 2019

ngoodermuth · Feb 20, 2019

Breathing looks ok. I can’t really see the pinched belly in the video, but that could possibly indicate intestinal parasites. Or, it might have just been a bit since his last meal.

Did the retailer say if he was eating anything? If you’re not sure, it might be worth contacting them to see what he might have been getting there?

Besides live blackworms, fresh clams can be pretty enticing. Just make sure you freeze them first to eliminate any pathogens. And maybe try red algae as well.

Beautiful fish by the way!

Philippe · Feb 20, 2019

ngoodermuth said:
Breathing looks ok. I can’t really see the pinched belly in the video, but that could possibly indicate intestinal parasites. Or, it might have just been a bit since his last meal.

Did the retailer say if he was eating anything? If you’re not sure, it might be worth contacting them to see what he might have been getting there?

Besides live blackworms, fresh clams can be pretty enticing. Just make sure you freeze them first to eliminate any pathogens. And maybe try red algae as well.

Beautiful fish by the way!

I was told that he was eating frozen mysis, the other thing that I know it tjat he was collected at Madagascar, I don't get it from a LFS I got it from a wholesaler in US. I can't get black worms here in Costa Rica